Spinning system

ABSTRACT

An automatic spinning system has at least one spinning frame with opposite banks of spinning stations. A tractor carries a tender capable of randomly servicing the spinning stations. The tractor is mounted for back and forth movement between opposite ends of a track above the banks of spinning stations. The tender is mounted on the tractor for swinging movement about the ends of the spinning frame from one of the banks of spinning stations to the other bank when the tractor is at either of the opposite ends of its track. Thus, the tender patrols the stations as it travels in one direction along a continuous path about the banks of spinning stations, and is capable of randomly servicing the spinning stations. Either a broken strand of yarn or a full bobbin at a station requiring servicing is sensed by operating mechanism for stopping the tender in servicing orientation with the station requiring servicing, whereupon the tender doffs the bobbin from the station spindle and donns an empty bobbin and starts the strand winding onto the empty bobbin. Empty bobbins are conveyed to the tender and filled bobbins are conveyed from the tender as they are doffed. If desired, the tender may be equipped with a system for ridding the spinning frame of lint.

United States Patent [191 Nelson 211 App]. No.: 138,899

[52] US. Cl. ..57/53 [51] Int. Cl. ..D0lh 9/10 [58] Field of Search ..57/34 R, 34.5, 53,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Lee, Jr. et al ..57/34 Bell et a1 Guido et a1. Nimtz et a1. ..57/34 Primary ExaminerWerner H. Schroeder AttorneyAlbert P. Davis and Burnett W. Norton [57] ABSTRACT An automatic spinning system has at least one 2 as as so 22 2a? spinning frame with opposite banks of spinning stations. A tractor carries a tender capable of randomly servicing the spinning stations. The tractor is mounted for back and forth movement between opposite ends of a track above the banks of spinning stations. The tender is mounted on the tractor for swinging movement about the ends of the spinning frame from one of the banks of spinning stations to the other bank when the tractor is at either of the opposite ends of its track. Thus, the tender patrols the stations as it travels in one direction along a continuous path about the banks of spinning stations, and is capable of randomly servicing the spinning stations. Either a broken strand of yarn or a full bobbin at a station requiring servicing is sensed by operating mechanism for stopping the tender in servicing orientation with the station requiring servicing, whereupon the tender doffs the bobbin from the station spindle and donns an empty bobbin and starts the strand winding onto the empty bobbin. Empty bobbins are conveyed to the tender and filled bobbins are conveyed from the tender as they are doffed. If desired, the tender may be equipped with a system for ridding the spinning frame of lint.

l6 8 2O 22 2Q PATENTEU W29 I975 ATTORNEYS INVENTOR JOHN NELSON FE======== ==============EE5 SPINNING SYSTEM This invention relates to a spinning system and, more particularly, to a system for automatically servicing spinning stations.

As used herein the term bobbin means any core or other member on which yarn is or may be wound so that it may be readily moved from place to place. The term filled bobbin means a bobbin having a winding of yarn thereon, whether full or partially full. The term empty bobbin means a bobbin devoid or substantially devoid of any yarn. The term yarn is employed in a general sense to apply to all kinds of strand material, either textile or otherwise.

Various automatic systems have been proposed for servicing one or more spinning frames. One such system is described in US. Pat. No. 3,403,866, granted Oct. 1, 1968, in which a servicing tender provides back and forth patrolling along a bank of spinning stations and stops at any station requiring servicing. The bobbin being wound at the station is doffed, an empty bobbin is donned, and the strand of yarn is started winding onto the newly donned bobbin, whereupon the tender continues its back and forth patrolling of the stations. Other systems provide a pair of tenders, one for servicing each of opposite banks of spinning stations, with the tenders mounted on a common carriage which may move back and forth along a spinning frame or a row of frames, or may move along a continuous path along side by side spinning frames separated by an aisle between the frames. Such a dual tender system has an obvious disadvantage in that when one of the two tenders is servicing a spinning station, the other tender is gener ally idle, thus substantially increasing equipment costs per spinning station serviced in a given time period. Furthermore, continuous systems of this type limit the overhead clearance of the aisle between the spinning frames and additionally are more complicated and expensive to install, in part because of having to bridge the aisle with tracks for carrying the tenders, and may be hazardous to personnel because of the servicing equipment crossing the aisle. Additionally, transfer of bobbins to and from the tenders is complicated and impractical. In such systems the tenders usually move to a fixed location for receiving and delivering bobbins. In general, it is preferable to continuously transfer bob bins to and from the tender or tenders rather than to store large quantities of bobbins which would require increasing the overall size and operating weight of the tender or tenders. Systems have been proposed in which a servicing tender travels in a continuous path around opposite banks of stations. The tender is generally not required to supply or remove bobbins from the stations, or to stop at the stations, but rather it generprovides limited servicing or merely initiates operationof servicing apparatus forming part of each station, as the tender continues its movement, and normally such servicing is in sequential order from adjacent station to adjacent station. It is a object of this invention to provide a new and useful spinning system. A related object is provision of such a system for automatically servicing spinning stations.

A more specific object is provision of a new and useful automatic spinning system capable of randomly servicing spinning stations of at least one spinning frame having opposite banks of spinning stations, with servicing apparatus patrolling the stations while moving in one direction along a continuous path past one of the banks of stations and then along the opposite one of the banks of stations and, responsive to any of the stations requiring servicing, for temporarily stopping in servicing orientation with the station requiring servicing. Related objects include: servicing the stations, for example, by dofiing and donning bobbins and starting the strand winding onto the newly donned bobbin at the station being serviced; conveying empty bobbins to the servicing apparatus and conveying filled bobbins from the servicing apparatus; stopping the servicing apparatus at a station requiring servicing responsive, for example, either to a full bobbin at the station or to the strand failing to be advanced at the station; and mounting the servicing apparatus for swinging movement from one bank to the other at each of the opposite ends of the spinning frame or frames.

The invention, in brief, is directed to an automatic spinning system capable of randomly servicing spinning stations of at least one spinning frame having opposite banks of spinning stations. A servicing tender is mounted for swinging movement about the ends of the spinning frame (or frames) from one of the banks to the other bank so that the tender travels in a continuous path about the spinning frame (or frames) in a forward direction during its patrolling movement. Responsive to a spinning station requiring servicing, for exam-. ple because the bobbin being wound at the station is fully filled, or because the strand is not being advanced to the bobbin, the tender is automatically stopped in servicing orientation with the spinning station. Upon stopping at a spinning station, the tender automatically doffs the bobbin at the station and donns an empty bobbin, and then starts the strand winding onto the newly donned bobbin, whereupon patrolling movement of the tender is resumed. Empty bobbins are conveyed to the tender and filled bobbins are conveyed from the tender, thus providing a continual flow of bobbins.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, schematic plan view of a preferred embodiment of an automatic spinning system, with parts omitted for clearer illustration;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, schematic side view of the left end of the system shown in FIG. 1, with parts broken and omitted for clearer illustration;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, schematic side sectional view, taken generally along the line 3-3 in FIG. I, with parts broken away and removed to illustrate a portion of operating mechanism of a tractor and a servicing tender of a spinning system;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, schematic plan sectional view, taken generally along the line 44 in FIG. 2, illustrating another portion of the operating apparatus of the tractor and tender;

FIG. 5 is a simplified pneumatic diagram of an operating circuit for the tractor and tender;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a photo-responsive sensor system for initiating servicing operation of the tender; and

FIG. 7 is a simplified pneumatic diagram of an operating circuit for a portion of an empty bobbin system.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, one or more conventional spinning frames 12 may be provided and, as illustrated in FIG. 1, at least a pair of spinning frames 12 are aligned end to end. Each spinning frame 12 has opposite banks 14 of spinning stations 16. At each station 16 a strand 18 is unwound from a roving or supply package 20 and is spun as it is wound onto a bobbin 22 rotated by a spindle 24 (FIG. 6). Apparatus for servicing the stations 16 is in the form of a tender 26 which is pivotally suspended from a carrier, here in the form of a tractor 28 mounted on tracks 30 for movement back and forth along a path between dash-pot type bumpers 32 at opposite ends of the tracks 30.

- With reference to FIG. 3, the tractor 28 is mounted on its tracks 30 by tandem driven traction wheels 32 riding on one rail 34 of the tracks 30, and guide wheels including pairs 36 of upper and lower guide wheels engaging upper and lower faces of a second rail 38 of the tracks, and pairs 40 of inner (not visible) and outer guide wheels engaging inner and outer faces of the second rail 38. The traction wheels 32 are drivingly connected by a chain drive 42, and are suitably driven by a chain drive 44 for propelling the tractor 28 back and forth along its tracks 30. Another drive 45 provides for stopping the tender in servicing orientation with any of the spinning stations 16 requiring servicing, as will be described later.

As the tractor 28 approaches either end of its tracks 30, for example, the right end of the tracks as indicated by the directional arrows 46 in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tractor 28 is brought to a stop against the adjacent bumper 32. Mechanism shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 then swings the tender 26 counterclockwise about the end of the spinning frame 12 from one bank 14 of the spinning stations 16 to the other bank 14, and the tractor 28 moves toward the other end of its tracks 30 so that the tender 26 continues patrolling the bank of spinning stations while moving only in a forward direction along a continuous path. A fluid powered system (FIG. 5) provides the motive power for driving the tractor 28 back and forth along its tracks and for swinging the tender 26 about the ends of the spinning frame 12.

When the tender 26 comes upon an operational spinning station 16 requiring servicing, a sensing system shown in FIG. 6 initiates a work cycle of the tender by temporarily stopping the tractor 28 and positioning the tender 26 in servicing orientation with the station 16 requiring servicing. Upon completion of a servicing cycle, the tender 26 resumes patrolling the spinning stations 16.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, throughout operation of the spinning system, empty bobbins 48 are conveyed to the tender 26 and filled bobbins 50 (FIG. 1, only) are removed from the tender. Empty bobbins 48, for delivery to the tender, may be stored in a jumbled condition in a hopper assembly 52 which orients and delivers the jumbled bobbins to a conveyor system 54 encircling the spinning frame. When the tender 26 requires an empty bobbin 48, suitable bobbin receiving apparatus on the tender is automatically operated to open a door 56 (FIG. 2, only) for removing an empty bobbin 48 from the conveyor system 54. Filled bobbins 50 are doffed from the spinning stations 16 and are delivered to the conveyor system 54 for transfer to a suitable receptacle 58 (FIG. 1, only) or onto a conveyor (not shown).

In order to prevent lint from collecting on the spinning stations 16 and about the bottom of the spinning frame 12, a cleaning vacuum and blower mechanism 60 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is preferably provided for removing and collecting the lint.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, and as previously noted, a plurality of spinning frames 12 (FIG. 1) are arranged end to end in a row and each spinning frame has opposite banks 14 of spinning stations 16. At each station 16 the strand 18, initially in the form of a roving, is unwound from the supply package 20 and is advanced downwardly through a guide 62 (FIG. 6) and a set of drafting rolls 64 and past an inlet in a vacuum duct 66 for removing the roving in the event that it breaks downstream of the drafting rolls. Under normal conditions, the strand 18 continues to be advanced downwardly from the drafting rolls 64 and through a lower guide 68 (FIG. 6) and then a ring traveler 70 which circles a bobbin 22 as the resultant yarn is wound onto the bobbin which is rotated by the spindle 24 driven as by a belt drive 72.

The tractor tracks 30 are supported in any suitable manner, for example by supports 74 (FIG. 2) secured to the spinning frames 12 and are generally centered above the opposite banks 14 of spinning stations 16. The pairs 36 and 40 of guide wheels which engage the rail 38 of the tracks 30 are journaled on fixed brackets. Referring to FIG. 3, the traction wheels 32 ride on the other rail 34 of the tracks 30 and are fixedly secured to axles 76 journaled on the tractor 28. The chain drive 44 for the traction wheels 32 includes a sprocket (FIG. 3) fixed to one of the axles 70 and a chain from a reversible pneumatic motor 78 (FIG. 5) on the tractor 28 for moving the tractor back and forth between the opposite ends of its track 30. The tender 26 has a generally vertical body 80 and a generally horizontal supporting portion 82 extending from the top of the body 80. The supporting portion 82 is fixed to a generally vertical pivot shaft 84 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which is journaled, as at 86 (FIG. 3), on the top of the tractor 28. Electric power and compressed air may be supplied to the tractor 28 in a suitable manner, for example as shown in the previously noted US Pat. No. 3,403,866, and from the tractor 28 to the tender 26 through a commutator (not shown) and an air swivel connector (not shown) connected with an air line 88 (FIG. 4) in the pivot shaft 84.

After the tractor has arrived at either end of its tracks 30, a tender position retaining lock 90 (FIGS. 3 and 4), which is slidably mounted in a block 92 atop the tender 28, is released by retraction of a spring returned piston rod of a pneumatic cylinder 94 mounted atop the tractor 28. A rack 96, suitably mounted on the tractor 28, is operated by retraction of a spring returned piston rod of a pneumatic cylinder 98 mounted on the tractor, to rotate a pinion 100 (FIG. 4) fixed atop a shaft 102 suitably joumaled on the tender 28, for operating a oneway clutch 104 on the shaft 102 to rotate a chain sprocket 106 (FIG. 4) which, through a chain 108 drivingly meshed with a sprocket 110 fixed to the tender shaft 84, rotates the tender counterclockwise, as indicated by the arrow 112 in FIG. 4. The lock 90 seats in a notch in an arm 114 fixed to the tender shaft 84, to retain the tender 26 properly positioned along the bank 14 of spinning stations 16. A second arm 116 on the shaft 84 extends diametrically oppositely from the arm 114, and has a notch engaged by the lock 90 when the tender 26 is rotated at the opposite end of its track 30 to again retain the tender properly positioned along the other bank of spinning stations. Upon return of the piston rod of the rack cylinder 98, the pinion 100 is rotated but because of its connection through the oneway clutch 104 with the sprocket 106, this sprocket remains stationary.

Movement of the tractor 28 back and forth along its track 30, and reversal of its direction of movement at opposite ends of its track, as well as swinging of the tender 26 about the ends of the spinning frames 12, is controlled by a pneumatic system shown in greatly simplified form in FIG. 5 and including the previously noted pneumatic components (FIGS. 3 and 4). As the tractor approaches either end of its track 30, here the right end, an actuator 118 (FIG. 3) of a pilot air reversing valve 120 (FIGS. 3 and 5) engages an abutment 122 (FIGfl) fixed intermediate the track rails 34 and 38 to reverse the flow of pilot air received from a source of supply 124 (FIG. 5) and passing through a pressure regulating valve 126. As the actuator 118 engages the abutment 122, the pilot air is shut off and vented from one-branch 128 connected to the reversing valve 120 and is directed into another branch 130. A normally closed valve 132 (FIGS. 4 and 5) in the branch 130 is mounted on the tractor 28 and has an actuator engaged by a cam 134 on the tender 26 as the tender is swung about the end of the spinning frame, thus opening the valve 132 so that pilot air is applied to one of opposite air pilots 136 of a slide valve 138 which thereupon reverses the application of line air pressure to the motor 78 for reversing operation of the motor and thereby reversing the direction of movement of the tractor 28. Thus, when the reversing valve 132 is reversed through engagement of its actuator 118 with the abutment 122 along the tractor track 30, the air motor 78 keeps operating in the same direction it had been operating as the tractor 28 approached the end of the track, and therefore stalls and retains the tractor 28 urged against the bumper 32 until the tender 26 has been swung about the end of the spinning frame. The other branch 128 from the reversing valve 120 is a duplicate of the branch 130, previously described, and is connected with the other air pilot 136 of the slide valve 138 through its cam operated shut-off valve 140, which is mounted on the tractor 28 opposite the previously noted valve 132.

' As the tender engages the bumper 32 at the end of its track 30, an actuator 142 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) of a normally closed pilot air valve 144 (FIG. 5) is opened to provide pilot air passing through a pressure regulating valve 146 from the air supply line 124 to a vented air pilot 148 of a normally closed vented valve 150 which is thereupon opened to provide line air pressure to the lock cylinder 94 and the rack cylinder 98, thus releasing the lock 90 and operating the drive rack 96 to swing the tender 26 on its shaft 84 from one bank 14 of spinning stations 16 to the other bank 14. A similar valve 152 and its actuator 154 is mounted at the opposite end of the tractor to engage the left hand bumper 32, and this valve 152 is connected between the regulating valve 146 and the vented air pilot 148.

As the tender swings about the right end of the row of spinning frames 12, the cam 134 on the tender 26 engages the actuator of the previously noted shut-off valve 132 in the branch 130 between the reversing valve 120 and the air pilot 136 of the slide valve 138, thus reversing the application of line pressure from the source 124 to the motor 78 for reversing the direction of rotation of the motor and therefore the direction of movement of the tractor 28 along its track 30. As soon as the tender moves away from engagement with the bumper 32, the bumper engaging actuator 142 of the valve 144 is released to shut ofif pilot air from the air pilot 148 of the cylinder control valve 150. Thus a small vent 156 in the air pilot 148 now releases the pilot air so that the valve closes and vents the cylinders 94 and 98, whereupon the lock 92 is engaged with the notch in the arm 114 and the rack 96 is returned to its initial position.

THE SIGNALLING SYSTEM With reference to FIG. 6, in order to initiate a work cycle of the tender 26 when it comes upon a spinning station 16 requiring servicing, an optical-electronic signalling system is provided on the tender. The signalling system illustrated in FIG. 6 is greatly simplified to more distinctly explain the operation of the spinning system. The signalling system may be considered as including four phototransducer units 158 each having at least one phototransducer 160 and a suitably light source 162 for projecting a beam of light 164 reflected from a target to the associated phototransducer 160. All of the units 158 are suitably operatively mounted on the tender 26.

As is fully disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,498,039, granted Mar. 3, 1970, and with continued reference to FIG. 6, the units 158 include an operational phototransducer unit 166 responsive to a target in the form of a roving breaker 168 at each spinning station 16 for providing an operational signal when the station is in operational condition. The roving breaker 168 is pivoted to a fixed portion of its station 16 and is normally maintained in a vertical position in which it provides a target from which the beam of light 164 from the light source 162 is reflected to the phototransducer 160. As controlled by a programmer (not shown) and an overall control system shown in the previously noted patent, US. Pat. NO. 3,403,866, if after two servicing attempts the tender 26 is unable to place the spinning station 16 in operating condition, a valve 170 is opened and a jet of air is discharged from a nozzle 172 on the tender 26 and against the roving breaker 168 to pivot the roving breaker downwardly to the dashed line position in FIG. 6, thus engaging the strand 18 of roving with pins 174, or other suitable means, on the free end of the roving breaker which comes to rest on a stationary bar 176 of the spinning station, thus causing the roving to be broken above the drafting rolls 64. When the tender 26 passes a station at which the roving breaker 168 is in its down position, the control circuit is such that the tender by-passes the station until it is again placed in operational condition by a spinning attendant.

Two other of the phototransducer units 158 (FIG. 6) provide servicing signals, either of which, in conjunction with the previously discussed operational signal, initiates a work cycle of the tender. The first of these units is a yarn present phototransducer unit 178 which initiates a servicing signal only when a target in the form of the advancing strand 18 is not present, that is, when the strand 18 is not being advanced or is not present between the drafting rolls 64 and the lower guide .68. The other of the servicing signal phototransducer units is a full bobbin phototransducer unit 180. This unit is responsive to a target, in the form of a fully wound bobbin 22, for providing a servicing signal which, again in conjunction with the operational signal, initiates a work cycle of the tender.

The phototransducer units 158 include a braking and orienting system disclosed in a co-pending Leesona Corportion U. S. Pat. appliation Ser. No. 102,659, filed Dec. 30, 1970, and incorporated by reference. The fourth unit 182 provides a signal when the tender 26 is proximate servicing orientation with a spinning station requiring servicing. This unit is of the null type and is responsive to reflection of a ray of light from a target in the form of a brake drum 184 of the spindle 24 only when the tender is proximate servicing orientation with the spinning station 16 requiring servicing.

Reference may be had to the above noted patent application Ser. No. 102,569, for a complete discussion of a system for stopping the tender in servicing orientation with a spinning station. In brief, with reference to FIG. 3, this system includes the chain drive 45 having a sprocket fixed to one of the traction wheel axles 76. An alternate orienting system is disclosed in the previously noted, U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,866.

After successfully servicing a spinning station, or after a second unsuccessful attempt to service the spinning station, the tractor 28 is again started to resume the patrolling movement of the tender 26.

The system for providing empty bobbins 48 to the tender 26 and for removing doffed (usually filled) bobbins 50 from the tender is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The empty bobbins 48 are deposited in the bobbin hopper assembly 52, as is fully disclosed in a co-pending Leesona Corporation U. S. Pat. application Ser. No. 789,283, filed Jan. 6, 1969, and incorporated by reference. Briefly, the empty bobbins 48 are deposited in a hopper 188 in a jumbled condition and are then oriented and depositied on rotating declining rods 190 having an escapement mechanism 192 at their lower ends. When the conveyor system 54 has space for an empty bobbin 48, a sensing apparatus 193 (FIG. 1) operates the escapement mechanism 192 to release a bobbin, as is fully disclosed in another co-pending Leesona Corporation patent application Ser. No. 863,858, filed Oct. 6, 1969, and incorporated by reference. When the escapement 192 is opened, the lowermost empty bobbin 48 on the rods 190 drops through a curved tube 194 and onto an empty bobbin conveyor 196 of the conveyor system 54. The tube 194 has an upper section 198 (FIG. 2) fixedly connected with the hopper 158, and a lower section 200 connected by a hinge 202 with the upper section 198.

In order to swing the lower section 200 of the tube 194 out of the way of the tender 26 as the tender swings about the adjacent end of the spinning frame 12, air cylinder 204 is secured to the hopper 188 and has the free end of its spring returned piston rod pivotally connected to a lever 206 (FIG. 2) fixed to and extending upwardly from the lower section 200 of the tube 194. The cylinder 204 is operated to raise the lower section 200 of the tube as a cam (not shown) on the tender 26 engages a spring returned actuator ofa normally closed valve 208 (FIGS. 1 and 7), suitably fixed relative to the adjacent spinning frame, to open the valve 208. Opening of the valve 208 pass air from a source of supply 210 and through a regulating valve 212 to an air pilot 214 of a normally closed and vented valve 216, to open the valve 216 and apply line air pressure to the cylinder 204. After the tender 26 has been swung about the end of the spinning frame 12, the tender engages a spring returned actuator of a normally closed valve 218 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 also fixed relatively to the spinning frame 12, to open the valve 218, thus venting the air pilot 214 and closing the valve 216 to vent the tube cylinder 204.

The empty bobbin conveyor 196 is also fully described, in principal, in the previously noted patent application Ser. No. 863,858, and in brief includes four conveyor belts 220, 222, 224 and 226 (FIG. 1 each suitably mounted and driven to convey the empty bobbins 48 around the row of spinning frames 12.

For receiving the bobbins from the empty bobbin conveyor 196, the tender 26 may be provided with the door 56 (FIG. 2) which is swung outwardly across the empty bobbin conveyor when the tender requires a bobbin, as is disclosed in a co-pending Leesona Corporation U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 879,857, filed Nov. 25, 1969, incorporated by reference. However, any suitable means may be provided on the tender 26 for receiving the empty bobbins from the conveyor. In any suitable manner known in the art, the empty bobbins 48 are donned onto the spindle 24 of the spinning station 16 being serviced, after a bobbin 50 has been doffed from the spindle. The dofi'ed bobbins 50 are dropped through a chute (not shown) in the tender and onto a filled bobbin conveyor 228 in the manner disclosed in the previously noted U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 863,858. However, in the present system, the conveyor belts 220-226 are sufficiently wide to carry, side by side along the banks 14 of spinning stations 16 and about the end of the spinning frame 12 remote from the empty bobbin hopper 188, both the empty bobbins 48 and the filled bobbins 50. The empty bobbin conveyor 196 and the filled bobbin conveyor 228 are separated by a continuous wall 230 and at the end of the filled bobbin conveyor 228 a deflector 232 (FIG. 1) is fixed to the wall 230 and extends across the belt for deflecting the filled bobbins 50 into a suitable receptable 234 or onto another conveyor (not shown).

The cleaning system is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein an air inlet is in the form of a flexible tube 235 extends from a free end of a lint intake 236 (FIG. 2) proximate the bottom of the spinning frames 12, and terminates in a collector 238 fixed to the tender 26. The collector 238 in turn is connected with a blower 240 (FIG. 2). Air passing through the collector 238 is emitted from the blower into a tube 242 depending from the top of the tender 26 to a closed end proximate the bottom of the spinning frames 12, and has a plurality of vertically spaced nozzles 243 (FIG. 1) for ejecting jets of air against appropriate portions of the spinning stations 16 for ridding the stations of lint.

To summarize the operation of the spinning system, the tractor 28 travels back and forth along its track 30 and upon coming to either end of the track it hesitates while the tender 26 is swung about the adjacent end of the row of spinning frames 12. As the tender 26-is swung about the end of the row of spinning frames at the empty bobbin hopper 188, the lower portion 200 of the empty bobbin delivery tube 194 is swung upwardly to permit the tender to clear the tube. The intake tube 235 and blower tube 242 of the cleaning system 60 glide across the belts 220-226 and other equipment at the ends of the row of spinning frames 12.

When the tender 26 comes upon a station 16 requiring servicing, the signal system (FIG. 6) initiates the work cycle of the tender if the spinning station is operational. Upon initiation of the work cycle, the braking and orienting system (FIG. 3) is actuated to position the tender 26 in servicing orientation with the spinning station 16 requiring servicing. The tender 26 then doffs the bobbin 50 from the spinning station spindle 24 (FIG. 6) donns an empty bobbin 48 onto the spindle, and starts the strand 18 winding onto the empty bobbin. Empty bobbins 48 are fed from the empty bobbin hopper 188 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and through the delivery tube 194 onto the empty bobbin conveyor 196 responsive to demand of the conveyor, as sensed by the sensing apparatus ms. The swinging door 56 on the tender 26 is opened to receive an empty bobbin 48 responsive to the demand of the tender for a bobbin. Bobbins 50 doffed from the spinning stations 16 are deposited by the tender 26 onto the filled bobbin conveyor 228 from which they are deposited in the receptacle 234.

While this invention has been described with reference to a paflicular embodiment in a particular environment, various changes may be apparent to one skilled in the art and the invention is therefore not to be limited to such embodiment or environment except as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for servicing opposite banks of strand processing stations positioned along a strand processing machine comprising, means forming a continuous looped path along said opposite banks of said strand processing stations and completely about said machine, tender means for servicing said stations, tractor means for moving said tender means proximate to each of said stations, motive means for reciprocating said tractor means along a predetermined path between opposite ends thereof to thereby move said tender means, pivot means connecting said tender means with said tractor means, and operating means for moving said tender means around an end of said machine on said pivot means when said tractor means is proximate an end of said predetermined path.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tender means includes means for doffing and donning bobbins and starting said strand winding onto the donned bobbin at the station being serviced.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including means for conveying bobbins to said tender means, said tender means including means for receiving said bobbins from said conveying means.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including means for conveying bobbins from said tender means, said tender means including means for delivering bobbins to the conveying means.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including means for conveying bobbins from said tender means, said tender means including means for delivering bobbins to said conveying means.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tractor means is operable in response to said strand failing to be advanced at said station requiring servicing or to a full bobbin at said station requiring servicing to stop said tender means at said station requiring servicing.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said predetermined path is positioned above and intermediate said opposite banks of strand processing stations, bumper means positioned at each of the opposite ends of said path, said tractor means abutting against said bumper means when the tractor means reaches each end of said predetermined path, said bumper being operable to initiate movement of said operating means to move said tender around an end of said machine. 

1. Apparatus for servicing opposite banks of strand processing stations positioned along a strand processing machine comprising, means forming a continuous looped path along said opposite banks of said strand processing stations and completely about said machine, tender means for servicing said stations, tractor means for moving said tender means proximate to each of said stations, motive means for reciprocating said tractor means along a predetermined path between opposite ends thereof to thereby move said tender means, pivot means connecting said tender means with said tractor means, and operating means for moving said tender means around an end of said machine on said pivot means when said tractor means is proximate an end of said predetermined path.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tender means includes means for doffing and donning bobbins and starting said strand winding onto the donned bobbin at the station being serviced.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including means for conveying bobbins to said tender means, said tender means including means for receiving said bobbins from said conveying means.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including means for conveying bobbins from said tender means, said tender means including means for delivering bobbins to the conveying means.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including means for conveying bobbins from said tender means, said tender means including means for delivering bobbins to said conveying means.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tractor means is operable in response to said strand failing to be advanced at said station requiring servicing or to a full bobbin at said station requiring servicing to stop said tender means at said station requiring servicing.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said predetermined path is positioned above and intermediate said opposite banks of strand processing stations, bumper means positioned at each of the opposite ends of said path, said tractor means abutting against said bumper means when the tractor means reaches each end of said predetermined path, said bumper being operable to initiate movement of said operating means to move said tender around an end of said machine. 